Senator Shelden Whitehouse questions AG designate, Eric Holder in Senate Judiciary hearing

[Wetzelbill]

Run time: 07:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXRIXDpL9hI   Posted on YouTube: January 15, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 16, 2009 By DU Member: Wetzelbill Views on DU: 767

 
Sort of a softball, but interesting exchange here. - WB

[EFerrari]

1. I don't hear him sayng that anyone will be held to account.

We're facing a grave crisis of accountability and his answer is that he will try to motivate people in the field.

Not good enough despite Whitehouse's good set up.

[Thrill]

2. Why say it now? I see no upside in announcing your intentions now

Wait until you get into office.

Unless you want Bush giving Blanket Pardons

[pacalo]

3. For now, I'd like to assume they're holding their cards close to their chests.

I'd be very disappointed if President Obama, a former professor of constitutional law, could ignore or justify Bush's/Cheney's crimes.

[Wetzelbill]

4. He'd face a much tougher confirmation fight

If he said that out loud. I think Republicans know some of what is coming, or could at least come, but if he states that he's going to crack the whip on these matters, these Republicans on the committee and in the senate as a whole won't have any political cover to hide under. In that case they'd have to fight him because their base would be pissed off. As it stands if Holder gets in and starts investigations they can sit back and say: "Well he didn't say that during the hearings, otherwise I wouldn't have voted for somebody so partisan" etc etc. If Holder is going to do any of that it serves no purpose to start a political fight before he's even got the job, especially if the most important thing for these guys is covering their asses. They have no real love for Bush/Cheney at this point, but the GOP base, Limbaugh/Hannity, all of that crowd will flip out and make their lives miserable if they voted for Holder while he was saying he'd go after any GOP abuses.

[EFerrari]

5. Lol -- that's true. "Vote for me so I can beat up your dummy."

:)